Davao will lean on prolific national team striker Phil Younghusband. Christian Jacinto

TAGUM, Davao del Norte — Phil Younghusband is hopeful that this will finally be the year when he gets that elusive league title as his Davao Aguilas enter the second season of the Philippines Football League with much enthusiasm following a busy summer.

Younghusband has had a fairly successful national team career and is the Philippines’ all-time goal scorer at 48, but hasn’t won a domestic league title in his seven-year career in club competition.

That’s why he wants nothing more than to start the second season of the PFL with a bang when they take host Kaya Iloilo on Sunday afternoon at the Davao del Norte Sports Complex.

“We’re all looking forward to the game. It’s an important game, it’s a game that you want to win because it is the first game of the season and it could give you an advantage,” said Younghusband.

“I’m sure all of the players have had a few months off since we last played. We’re all very excited to show and display our talent in front of these fans,” he added.

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Younghusband will still have his brother James with him, alongside Dylan de Bruycker, Harry Sawyer, Simone Rota and Angel Guirado.

What’s interesting is how the Jefferson Cheng-owned Aguilas will look especially with the acquisition of several key players in the offseason.

While the Aguilas definitely look formidable on paper, Younghusband knows that the true test comes when they finally enter the pitch.

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“The team is only a year old. It takes time to build a winning team. Our owner, Mr. Jeff Cheng, he’s invested a lot in this team, everyone within the club is very thankful for that. It means high expectations and pressure. With the caliber that we have, we have to handle the handle that pressure,” Younghusband said.

“Each year what’s important is we progress. With the influx of new talent we have then we expect to be challenging for the title. With the players we have, and with our coaches, management and the staff that we have, we expect anything less than challenging for a title,” he added.